Regardless of where your studies began, we are glad you found your way here. To ease your shift to another school, we have some advice. Because of the sequencing and intensity of our degree programs’ coursework, we recommend that you disperse your general education requirements throughout your studies. For most students, it makes sense to transfer to App after no more than a year at another institution, rather than completing all general education requirements first.
After you have been accepted to Appalachian State University, you may enroll in Art Department courses at the 1000- and 2000-level, provided you have met the prerequisites for those courses.
There is no portfolio requirement prior to enrolling in courses in the Art Department. If you are pursuing one of our BFA programs (Art Education, Graphic Design, or Studio Art), though, you will be required to pass the candidacy portfolio review prior to advancing into 3000-level courses. We recommend that you apply to candidacy as soon as you have completed the prerequisite coursework, which is generally fall semester of the sophomore year for most students, and may be as early as the first semester in the department for transfer students.
Although we recognize the value of prior studies in preparing you for your time at Appalachian, not every transfer course will automatically “count” in your degree program.
Refer to the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement to see how courses taken in North Carolina community colleges will transfer into the Art Department.
Art Department Transfer Credit Policies
- All Art Department courses not listed in the articulation agreement will transfer as pre-major electives (ART ELEC, ARH ELEC, GCM ELEC, PHO ELEC). These courses will not count in the major and will appear in DegreeWorks as Electives or Fallthrough courses.
- Transfer students may submit a petition for transfer credit for up to 3 additional courses (9 semester hours) beyond the courses listed above to transfer as specific Art Department courses.
- For a petition for transfer credit to be approved, course content and contact hours must be equivalent to the course in the Art Department; this equivalency must be documented with the official course description and syllabus attached to the petition for transfer credit.
- Submitting a petition for transfer credit does not guarantee approval of the petition.
- Cumulatively, no more than 24 semester hours of transfer credits of Art Department courses (ART, ARH, GCM, PHO) may count toward any Art Department major.
- No transfer courses from two-year colleges will be granted transfer credit at the 3000-level or higher, except for GCM 3102.
- No more than 3sh will be transferred in a single studio area of ART (Clay, Fibers, Metals, Photography, Printmaking, Painting, Sculpture).
Art Education student with paper-mâché head telling a joke at a Climate Stories Showcase event
Poster for High Country Clay
Jacob Fluharty
Tips for Transfer Students
BA Art and Visual Culture – Art History concentration
The BA with a concentration in Art History is a liberal arts degree that requires both a minor as well as a foreign language in addition to the major coursework. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory studio art and art history courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to evenly distribute foreign language, minor, and major requirements throughout the remaining semesters. In order to complete the BA in two years after earning an associate’s degree, you must enroll in at least 15 hours per semester. You should enroll in ART 2035 (Seminar in Visual Culture) in your first or second semester in the department. The capstone course, ARH 4030 (Seminar in Criticism and Theory) should be taken during the final year. Refer to the transfer guide and four-year guide for more information.
BA Art and Visual Culture – Art Management concentration
The BA with a concentration in Art Management is a liberal arts degree that requires both a minor in nonprofit management as well as a foreign language in addition to the major coursework. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory studio art and art history courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to evenly distribute foreign language, minor, and major requirements throughout the remaining semesters. In order to complete the BA in two years after earning an associate’s degree, you must enroll in at least 15 hours per semester. You should enroll in ART 2035 (Seminar in Visual Culture) in your first or second semester in the department. The capstone course, ART 4900 is often completed in the summer following the last semester of coursework. Refer to the transfer guide and four-year guide for more information.
BA Art and Visual Culture – Studio Art concentration
The BA with a concentration in Studio Art is a liberal arts degree that requires both a minor as well as a foreign language in addition to the major coursework. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory art courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to evenly distribute foreign language, minor, and major requirements throughout the remaining semesters. In order to complete the BA in two years after earning an associate’s degree, you must enroll in at least 15 hours per semester. You should enroll in ART 2035 (Seminar in Visual Culture) in your first or second semester in the department. The capstone course, ART 4310 (Advanced Studio Art) should be taken during the final semester and requires 6 semester hours (typically two courses) of studio classes at the 3000-level or higher as prerequisites.
BFA Art Education
The BFA in Art Education is a professional degree that requires intensive studio art coursework, a professional core in the College of Education, and four classes in the Art Education area, along with one semester of student teaching, to be completed in the final semester. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory art courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to prioritize courses towards admission to teacher education and BFA in Art Ed candidacy review. For students entering with all general education and introductory art courses (ART 1001, 1002, 1003; ARH 2030, 2130, ART 2022) complete, please review our advising guideposts here, especially the four year guide, to plan your next steps.
BS Graphic Communications Management (GCM)
The BS in Graphic Communications Management is a professional degree program that requires two internships and a General Business minor. It is recommended that transfer students plan on taking GCM 3900 Graphic Communications Internship I at the end of junior year and finishing GCM 4900 Graphic Communications Internship II by the end of senior year (typically done in the summer after completing all the coursework). Because not all courses can be offered every semester, it is important to follow the sequence of courses in which they are offered.
BFA Graphic Design
The BFA in Graphic Design is a professional degree program that requires intensive studio coursework—42 hours of required and elective Graphic Design courses and 12 hours of Studio Art / Photography courses.
We recommend that transfer students come to Appalachian after completing 30 credit hours that include all three of the program’s Foundations courses, at least one of its Art History surveys, and a course that can fulfill the program’s Professional Development requirements.
Since the program requires 66 hours of studio courses, transfer students should aim to have about 24 hours of lecture courses to complete prior to coming to Appalachian. Doing so will help ensure that they have a balance of studio and lecture courses each semester. Taking more than three studio courses in a term is possible, but it leads to a heavy work load. Be sure to meet with an advisor early to develop a plan for completing degree requirements. Taking studio courses during summer session may be helpful or even necessary to complete the degree in three years.
- Transfer students can complete the sequence of Graphic Design’s required classes in six semesters, starting in a fall term.
- Graphic Design’s required courses are offered in either fall or spring semesters, not both. The first class, ART 1132 Introduction to Graphic Design is offered in the fall.
- Graphic Design program’s required courses must be taken at Appalachian.
- A candidacy portfolio review is required prior to advancing into intermediate-level courses. Students who do not pass the review can apply a second time or choose to complete a minor in Graphic Design.
- A minor or foreign language are not required.
Visit the Graphic Design program’s advising page to see a four-year plan for transfer students.
BFA Photography – Commercial Photography Concentration
The BS in Commercial Photography is a professional degree program that includes required Advertising, Accounting, and Business courses. Although not required, transfer students with associate degrees should consider choosing a minor to help fill their schedule because it is very difficult to fill the course load entirely with Commercial Photography classes. It is recommended that transfer students plan on enrolling in summer courses in order to complete the BS degree in two years after earning an associate’s degree. A three-year course of study is more manageable and typically results in a stronger portfolio upon graduation. The recommended sequencing of courses is:
Summer (6sh)
- 1st session: PHO1022
- 2nd session: PHO2022
Semester 1 (12sh)
- PHO 2032 – History of Photography
- PHO 2052 – Form and Media in Photography
- PHO 2062 – Survey of Photographic Careers (Fall only)
- PHO 3032 – Perspective and Optics
Semester 2 (12sh)
- PHO 3042 – Studio Photography
- PHO 3012 – Retouching for Photographers
- ART 2130 – Art from 1400 to the present
- COM 2700 – Foundations of Advertising
Semester 3 (12 sh)
- PHO 3052 – Video for Photographers
- PHO 3072 – Editorial Photography
- Choose 3 (sh) : ACC 1050, BUS 1050, or FIN 3010
- GRA 1012 – Intro to Graphic Communication
Semester 4 (12 sh)
- Choose 6 (sh) : PHO 4402, PHO 4412, PHO 4422, PHO 4432, PHO 4442, or PHO 4452
- Choose 3 (sh) : ACC 1050, BUS 1050, or FIN 3010
- Minor 3 (sh) :Optional
Semester 5 (12 sh)
- Choose 6 (sh) : PHO 4402, PHO 4412, PHO 4422, PHO 4432, PHO 4442, or PHO 4452
- Minor 6 (sh) :Optional
Semester 6 (12 sh)
- PHO 3092 – Professional Photographic Practices (WID)
- PHO 4492 – Photographic Portfolio (CAP)
- Minor 6 (sh) :Optional
BFA Studio Art
The BFA in Studio Art is a professional degree program that requires intensive studio coursework, but does not require a minor or foreign language. Because enrolling in more than three studio courses in a single semester is challenging (and enrolling in more than four studio courses in a single semester is virtually impossible), it is recommended that transfer students plan on enrolling in summer studio courses in order to complete the BFA degree two years after earning an associate’s degree. A candidacy portfolio review is required prior to advancing into upper-level studio and seminar courses. Most transfer students will be eligible for candidacy at the end of their first semester in the Department (deadlines are the last Monday in November for fall semester review, and the last Monday in April for spring semester review). For students entering with all general education and introductory art courses (ART 1001, 1002, 1003; ARH 2030, 2130) complete, the following sequencing of courses is recommended:
Summer (6 hours): two 2000-level studios (consider ART 2103, 2104 and/or 2105)
Fall (12 hours): Art History, three 2000-level studios (including ART 2103 and ART 2104 or 2105, if not completed in the summer); submit to candidacy portfolio review
Spring (12 hours): ART 3015 (So/Jr Seminar), three studios (including at least one at the 3000-level in studio area of focus); declare studio area in Art Office
Summer (6 hours): two studios and/or related area courses
Fall (12 hours): ART 4351 (Sr. Seminar), three studios (including 4000-level studio in studio area of focus)
Spring (12 hours): ART 4852 (Senior Studio), two studios and/or related area courses, Art History
I transferred from a smaller private college campus to be around more people and have the university experience. including more classes to choose from and events to attend.
Katelyn Woodie